Flying-machine.



S. A. WITHERSPOON.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1910.

991,81 1 a Patented May 9, 1911.

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FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26, 1910.

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Patented May 9, 1911.

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SEWALL A. WITHERSPOON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed January 26, 1910. Serial No. 540,133.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, SEWALL A. WITHER- slooN, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFlying-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification.

My invention relates to a flying machine of the aeroplane type, and ithas for its object the production of a flying machine of thisdescription by which the air may be navigated without liability ofinversion of the machine, which has heretofore been-a source of dangerin the operation of flying machines; also to provide in a flying machinea construction that may perform the ottice of a parachute in order thata safe landing may be possible in the event of the failure of the meansfor operating the propeller; and also to provide a construction thatwill permit of the flying machine being utilized under variousatmospheric condirudder part of the machine with the hori-- zontal ormain rudder shown in the position assumed when the horizontal or mainruddcr is used in changing the course of the machine, and the auxiliaryor vertical rudder in a deflected position. Fig. IV is a horizontalsection through the auxiliary or If vertical rudder and its support.Fig. V is a perspective view of a fragment of one of the side extensionwings with the auxiliary plane thereon in stretched condition. Fig. VIis a similar view to Fig. V with the auxiliary plane reefed.

In the accompanying drawings :-A designates the bottom frame of myflying machine by which the platform for a passenger, or passengers, andthe propelling mechanism are supported. I V

B is the top frame by which the main plane, the lateral extension plane,and the movable rear plane and end gate of the flying machine aresupported.

C is an intermediate frame that serves in an intermediate longitudinalbar 8", a front cross bar'9, a rear cross bar 10, and inter! mediatecross bars 11, the various cross bars being extended beyond the sides ofthe main portion of the top frame to furnish lateral extensions, with anobject in view to be hereinafter made clear, and these cross bars havesecured to them at their ends auxiliary side bars 12.

The intermediate frame G comprises side bars 13, a front crossbar 14,and a rear cross barthat is arranged parallel with the front cross barand is interposed between and connects the rear ends of the side bars13. The intermediate frame C is'of greater length than either the bottomframe A or the top frame B and juts forwardly beyond said frames, asseen in Figs. I and II, and said v intermediate frame is connected tothe bottom and top frames by lower side braces 15 extending upwardly andforwardly and lower side bltlut: 15 extending upwardly and forwardlyfrom the bottom frame to the front cross bar 14 of the intermediateframe,

upper side braces 16 extending downwardly and forwardly from the topframe to the cross bar 14, and a central upper brace 17 that is parallelwith the braces 16 and connects the top frame and intermediate frame attheir forward ends.

18 is a vertical pivot rod located in front of the central brace 17 andextending upwardly from the center of the forward cross bar 14, thispivot rod being connected at its upper end to the front cross bar 9 ofthe top frame B at a central location by a horizontal arm 19, and alsoconnected to the top frame atits sides by braces 20 extending to theupper end of the pivot rod.

It should be here noted that'the bottom and intermediate frames. A and Care arranged horizontally and parallel with each other, while the topframe is inclined upwardly and forwardly from its rear end relative tothe frames beneath it. p

21 designates side uprights interposed between the top and bottom framesand to which the side bars of the intermediate frame C are connected,these uprights being introduced into the framework of my flying machinefor the purpose of affording rigidity therein.

22 designates the main sustaining plane of my flying machine, which Iscarried by the top frame B, and is of sutiicient expanse to extend fromone side bar 8 of the frame to the opposite side bar 8 and from thefront cross bar 9 to the rear cross bar 10. .This sustaining plane ispreferably of canvas, or other suitable fabric, but may be of anydesirable material, and I preferably provide the plane with a pluralityof apertures 23 through which air may pass to escape from points beneaththe plane when it 1s desired to permit such passage. Inasmuch, however,as it is sometimes desirable to close or control these apertures, Iprovide as closlng or controlling means therefor curtains 24: that arelocated beneath the main plane and are adapted to be drawn intopositions beneath the apertures to prevent or restrict passage of airtherethrough and which are preferably mounted upon rollers 25, (see Fig.II), on which the curtains may be wound when the apertures are to remainopen.

26 designates auxiliary sustaining planes that are supported by thelateral extensions at the sides of the top frame B and which areslidably fitted to the extensions of the cross bars that enter into theconstruction of the top frame B. These auxiliary planes are intended toafford plane surfaces in addition to the main plane 22 to assist insustaining the flying machine in flight and greater expanse o aeroplanesurface to prevent toppling of the flying machine in flight. Inasmuch,however, as their use would not be ractical under certain atmosphericcondltIOII S, such as during high winds, I so apply them to theextensions of the main top frame as to permit of their being reefed,when desired. In Figs. I and V the auxiliary planes are shown in spreadcondition, and in Fig. VI one of said planes is illustrated as itappears when it has been reefed and lies against one of the side bars ofthe top frame. 7

27 designates side curtains that extend vertically from the side bars 8of the top frame B to the side bars 13 of the intermediate frame C andthe upper edges of which are inclined upwardly and forwardly from therear end of the flying machine to its front end, the incline beingsimilar to that of the top frame and with the result that the curtainsare widest at their forward ends where they are connected to the upperside braces 16. These curtains serve to confine the air that passesunder the main sustaining plane 22 and, as the air passes rearwardlyunder said plane, it becomes somewhat compressed and, as a consequence,has greater lifting power in sustaining the flying machine by pressureagainst the main plane and, inasmuch as the propeller 28 is locatedbeneath the plane near its rear end, the action of the propeller in thecompressed air is such as to afford a greater impetus in the flight ofthe flying machine.

. 29 designates a main rudder or guiding plane that is located. at thefront end of my flying machine and the frame of which is pivotallyconnected at 30 to the front cross bar 14 of the intermediate frame C'from which the rudder extends rearwardly in order that it may be swungvertically at a level lower than that occupied by the sustaining planeof the machine. The frame of the rudder 29 is constructed as to permitof the rudder being warped from the flat condition in which it is shownin Figs. I and II to the condition in which it is shown in Fig. III. Bywarping the rudder in the proper direction, it is made to present to theair through which flight is being made a surface of such nature as toprovide for a turn of the flying machine to guide it either to the rightor left; whereas, when a directcourse is to be maintained, the rudder isheld in a horizontal position; or, when there is to be upward ordownward flight, the rudder is lowered or elevated relative to ahorizontal line to provide for, respectively, ascent in flight and thedescent in flight. The rudder 29 is operable'by a controlling cord 31extending downwardly therefrom to suitable guides 32 and then rearwardlyto the platform 5, and also by controlling cords 33 extending upwardlyfrom the rudder to suitable guides 34 and then downwardly to theplatform. The lower controlling cords serve as a means for moving therudder downwardly, and the upper controlling cords serve as a means forelevating the rudders; and it will be apparent that by propermanipulation of the lower and upper controlling cords, the desiredwarping of the rudder for the guidance of the flying machine my beaccomplished. The controlling cords all lead to a rack 35 on theplatform having members to which the cords may be tied, or around whichthey may be Ian trolling cords 38 that lead through guides 39 supportedby the top frame B, the controlling cords leading from said guides tothe rack 35 providing means by which the rudder 36 may be swung to oneside or the other to assist in guiding the flying machine in flight.

40 designates anend gate at the rear of the fl 'ng machine which is ofservice, when in a owered position, to partially clos'e'the rear end ofthe space beneath'the main sustaining plane-22 and between the rear endsof ,the curtains'2-7-j and also, when inan elevated position, to serveas an additional sustaining plane surface. The end gate is pivoted at 41to the rear cross bar of the .top frame B and is prevented from movingupwardly beyond a horizontal plane by an extension I) of the top frame.The end gate 40 is connected to the main rudder 29 by controlling cords42, which provide for the end gate being lowered to a vertical orsubstantially vertical position when the rear free end of the rudder 29is elevated to the front end of the top frame B, and permitted to retainits elevated position when the rudder is in its normal lowered position.

43' designates land wheels upon which the flying machine may travel,either preceding or following an ascent. To provide for an easy landingof the flying machine after flight, these wheels are journaled tospindles that are carried by bell cranks44 pivoted to the bottom frame Aat 45, one arm of each bell crank having attached to it a spring 46 thatis connected to the framework of the flying machine, and provides foryielding upward movement of the land wheels when they strike the ground,in order that there may be no breakage of the machine, or injuriousshock to the operator or passengers incident to the landing. v

In the use of my flying machine for straight way flight, the movableparts are intended to occupy the positions seen in Figs. I and II, withthe exceptions that during flight, the end' gate 40 is sustained at itslimit of upward movement against the top frame extension 6, and if thecourse of the flight is to be a rising one or a descending one, the mamrudder 29 1s lowered or ele-' vated from the position seen in thedrawings to a degree that will provide for the proper directing of theflying machine in its upward or downward flight. As previously stated,the change in course of flight of the machine in a horizontal directionis governed by warping of the main rudder 29 and turning of theauxiliary rudder 36.

In the event of failure of operation of the motor utilized in themachin'e 'to drive the propeller 28, I convert the upper portion of mymachine into a parachute and this is readily accomplished by elevatingthe main rudder 29 so that its rear end is carried to beneath the mainsustaining beneath the main sustaining plane and between the sidecurtains 27. The lowering of the end gate, as mentioned, is accomplishedsimultaneously with the elevating ;of the main rudder through the mediumof the controlling cords 42 connecting these members It will be' readilyappreciated that when the main rudder and the end gate have been movedto the positions stated, an inclosure open at its bottom only isprovided plane 22, and that the walls constituting tlns inclosure inconnection with the main plane furnish a parachute that will preventsudden or dangerous descent of theflying machine.

The apertures 23 are provided in the main plane 22 of my flying machineto permit constant escape, by upward passage through the plane, of deadair from beneath the plane during descent when the propeller is not inoperation, in order that live air will constantly pass beneath the planeand up wardly through it. The curtains 24 provide for the closing ofthese apertures during flight of the machine.

I claim 1. In a flying machine, the combination with a top plane, of abottom frame suspended therefrom, a propeller mounted under said topplane and between it and said bot-tom frame, a pair of side curtains ordepth from the front toward the rear, and

a propeller rotatably mounted under said top frame and within saidchannel.

3. In a flying machine, the combination of a plurality of planes forminga wedge shaped space decreasing in cross sectional area rearwardly, anda propeller rotatably mounted within said Wedge shaped space andadjacent its narrowest point.

4. In a flying machine, the combination with a top plane, of a bottomframe suspended therefrom, an intermediate frame having one endprojecting forwardly beyond said top plane and bottom frame, planesextending from the top plane to said intermediate frame, a rudder planeswingingly mounted on the forward end of said intermediate frame andextending rearwardly, and a vertically disposed rudder plane exingwarped to vary tending above said horizontal rudder plane, saidhorizontal rudder being capable of beits angular disposition withrespect to said vertically disposed rudder plane. A

5; In a flying machine, the combination with a" top plane of a pair ofside curtains and a rudder plane mounted at the forward end of themachine beneath thetop plane and intermediate of said curtains, saidrudder plane being adapted to be moved upwardly against the top plane,and said movable portion of the top plane being movable downwardlyagainst the ends of the side curtains, whereby said top plane, rudderplane, side curtains, and movable portion of the top plane areconvert-ed into a parachute.

7. In a flying machine, the combination with the top frame, of a bottomframe, an intermediate frame, a plane carried by said top frame, a pairof planes or curtains mounted between the top trance and intermediateframe, and a rudder plane pivot- Y ally mounted on the forward end ofsaid 1 intermediate frame and reaching, in raised 1 der.

8. In a dying machine, the combination with a sustaining plane of a pairof down- 1 position, to said top frame.

wardly extending lateral planes forming an inverted channel therewith, arudder plane swingingly mounted upon a horizontal axis namii able"portion adapted to close the rear end of the space between said sideplanes, and means operatively.connectiug said rudder plane and movableportion of said top plane,

whereby they are moved together upwardly and downwardly, respectively,to form a y parachute.

9. In a flying machine, the combination with a sustaining plane of apairof downwardly extending lateral planes forming an inverted channeltherewith, a rudder plane swingingly mounted upon a horizontal axis andbetween said lateral planes, means for swinging said rudder planeforwardly against the top plane to close the forward end of the spacebetween said side planes, said top plane being provided with a movableportion adapted to close the rear end of the space between said sideplanes, and means operatively connecting said rudder plane and movableportion of said top plane, whereby they are moved together upwardly anddownwardly, respectively, to form a parachute; said top plane beingprovided with apertures for releasing the dead air beneath said topplane.

10. A flying machine comprising a bottom frame, a top frame having acentral horizontal arm, an intermediate frame, uprights connecting theframes, a vertical pivotrod, mounted in the horizontal arm and in thefront bar of the intermediate frame, an auxiliary rudder hinged to thepivot rod and means for controlling the auxiliary rud- SEWALL A. WITHERSPO ON.

In the presence of- Emm B. LINN, HOWARD G. COOK.

